tenure

1the period of time when somebody holds an important job, especially a political one; the act of holding an important jobhis four-year tenure as PresidentShe knew that tenure of high political office was beyond her.

2the right to stay permanently in your job, especially as a teacher at a universityIt's still extremely difficult to get tenure.See related entries:University life

3the legal right to live in a house or use a piece of landWhen you rent a house here, you don’t have security of tenure.

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, from tenir

‘to hold’

, from Latintenere.Extra examplesShe had a long tenure of office.She has been granted tenure at Leeds University.The tenants have security of tenure.